Employers invited to shape new workplace health support
Northern Ireland businesses are being asked to join a new group to improve workforce health, increase labour market participation and help people remain in work.
Northern Ireland businesses are being asked to join a new 'Vanguard' group to help design and test practical tools that make workplaces more inclusive for staff with disabilities and long‑term health conditions. The initiative is led by the Department for Communities’ Pathways to Work and Wellbeing Programme.
What is the Vanguard for?
Employers say they want more hands‑on help when supporting staff with health conditions and disabilities. The Vanguard will:
- bring together a group of Northern Ireland employers to share experience of what works in practice
- co‑design and test a set of workplace products, for example, stay‑in‑work and return‑to‑work plans, manager conversation guides, and adjustment processes
- run a 10‑week sprint test starting in early November 2026
The work in Northern Ireland is aligned with the wider Keep Britain Working programme, which is building Britain’s first Workplace Health System with more than 200 Vanguard organisations across the UK.
Online awareness sessions
The Department for Communities and Keep Britain Working are holding two short online sessions in October to explain:
- what being an NI Vanguard involves
- the benefits for participating employers
- what the 10‑week test will look like from an employer’s perspective
Businesses can register for one of the following 45‑minute MS Teams sessions:
Session 1
Date: Wednesday 21 October 2026
Time: 11am to 11:45am
Register for session 1.
Session 2
Date: Thursday 22 October 2026
Time: 2pm to 2:45pm
Register for session 2.
Organisations are encouraged to share the invitation with other employers in their network or supply chain.
For further information, contact: PMOWorkandWellbeing@communities-ni.gov.uk.